The Elements of Art

The elements of art are utilized by all artists, and a greater

understanding of the principles which are used leads to a greater understanding of artwork itself.

THE ELEMENTS OF ART

COLOR VALUE LINE SHAPE FORM TEXTURE SPACE

COLOR

Light reflected off objects. Color has three main characteristics: hue (red, green, blue, etc.), value (how light or dark it is), and intensity (how bright or dull it is). Colors can be described as warm (red, yellow) or cool (blue, gray), depending on which end of the color spectrum they fall.

COLORS OF THE SPECTRUM

VALUE

Value describes the brightness of color. Artists use color value to create different moods. Dark colors in a composition suggest a lack of light, as in a night or interior scene. Dark colors can often convey a sense of mystery or foreboding.

…..from white to grey to black

VALUE

VALUE

VALUE

VALUE

LINE

A line is an identifiable path created by a point moving in space. It is one-dimensional and can vary in width, direction, and length. Lines often define the edges of a form. Lines can be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal, straight or curved, thick or thin. They lead your eye around the composition and can communicate information through their character and direction.

Leading lines force your eyes to move from the foreground to the background of a photo

SHAPE

Shapes have two dimensions—height and width—and are usually defined by lines.  

Shape is usually, though not always, defined by line, which can provide its contour. In this image, rectangles and ovals dominate the composition.

By looking at a photo in a more abstract way, the viewer is able to pick out simple shapes that are formed by the use of some of the other elements of art.

SHAPE

SHAPE

FORM

 Form has depth as well as width and height. Three-dimensional form is the basis of sculpture, furniture, and decorative arts. Three-dimensional forms can be seen from more than one side.

FORM (3-Dimensional)

FORM (3-Dimensional)

FORM

FORM

FORM

TEXTURE

The surface quality of an object that we sense through touch. All objects have a physical texture. Artists can also convey texture visually in two dimensions. In a two-dimensional work of art, texture gives a visual sense of how an object depicted would feel in real life if touched: hard, soft, rough, smooth, hairy, leathery, sharp, etc.

How would it feel?

How would it feel?

How would it feel?

How would it feel?

How would it feel?

How would it feel?

SPACE

Real space is three-dimensional. Space in a work of art refers to a feeling of depth or three dimensions. It can also refer to the artist's use of the area within the picture plane. The area around the primary objects in a work of art is known as negative space, while the space occupied by the primary objects is known as positive space.

Negative Space? Positive Space?

Negative Space? Positive Space?

Negative Space? Positive Space?

Negative Space? Positive Space?

Negative Space? Positive Space?

Negative Space? Positive Space?